"Prayuth" Denies Abuse of Power, Confirms Closure of 'Royalist Marketplace' Page Based on Court Order - International Cooperation

Meanwhile, Facebook issued a statement indicating that excessive government intervention in Thailand undermines its ability to invest further.

Yesterday (August 25), Prime Minister and Minister of Defense Gen. Prayuth Chan-o-cha commented on reports from foreign news agencies that Facebook plans to sue the Thai government after the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society (DES) requested Facebook to block user accounts posting content referencing the monarchy, such as the page named 'Royalist Marketplace'. He urged consideration of both sides, stating that if such interpretations continue, they could impact the country's legal framework, which everyone must respect.

"I have never overstepped into foreign laws because they are their laws. Each law belongs to its respective country, so whatever anyone does, I ask them to be cautious about these matters," he said.

He noted that the group behind the page is led by Somyot Chiaranthana and Pawin Chachavalpongpun, who are well aware of the situation. The actions taken regarding these pages are all in accordance with Thai law, and he has never exercised what could be termed as dictatorial power.

"I do not have the authority to order a closure; it is a request for a court order in every instance. Therefore, I believe that legally we can confirm that everything is in accordance with Thai law, and any closure of pages is a request for cooperation and follows court orders. If there is a lawsuit, we must use Thai law to fight it," the Prime Minister stated.

Foreign Ministry Confirms Use of Thai Law for Control

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai stated that the legal departments of relevant ministries are currently reviewing the legal aspects and the origins of the issue. If the posters violate the government's laws, they are in a position to enforce Thai law to ensure correctness. The matter of international legal rights is separate, but it must be considered whether such laws can be applied in Thailand. The characteristics of the website must be examined to determine if it presents beneficial content for the Thai people or society; if not, it could lead to problems.

When asked about Facebook's claim of adhering to international law, Don replied that since Facebook operates in Thailand, it has the means and authority to address issues occurring within Thai territory. Anything that violates Thai law is deemed incorrect. Thailand has consistently sought cooperation from Facebook in the country and has received cooperation throughout. When asked if Facebook might consider withdrawing investment from Thailand, Don said they need to see the details first.

"Putthipong" Confirms Continued Legal Action

Minister of Digital Economy and Society Putthipong Punnakanta confirmed that the DES is acting according to the law, and will continue to do so in the future. If similar cases arise, they will sue as before. However, he has not yet seen any indication of where or how Facebook might sue, marking the first time action has been taken against a platform owner for not complying with Thai court orders. A court order was sent to remove incorrect content within 15 days, and if Facebook complies, there will be no legal action.

"Whether Thai or foreign, anyone conducting business in Thailand must respect Thai law. This is a court order, and if anything arises in the future, I will act according to court orders with all platforms, not just Facebook. In the past, most have complied," he said.

Currently, there are 1,120 URLs with inappropriate content on Facebook, which has been gradually removed. In the past 10 days, Facebook has deleted 90% of the content as per court orders, including on YouTube and TikTok.

Putthipong stated that the Prime Minister emphasized adherence to legal principles and bringing matters into the judicial process. He is not concerned that this will affect foreign investment confidence, as similar situations occur in other countries, including the U.S., where lawsuits, blocks, and closures happen. Compared to abroad, this is a similar process that does not infringe on anyone's rights.

Facebook Claims Impact on Investment in Thailand

Meanwhile, yesterday (August 25), Facebook issued a statement indicating that it has decided to limit access to content that the Thai government deems illegal, which it considers a severe demand that contradicts international human rights principles and affects freedom of expression. Facebook aims to uphold the rights of all internet users and is preparing to contest this legal demand. The excessive intervention by the Thai government continues to undermine Facebook's ability to invest in Thailand.

Facebook stated that the issue of freedom of expression is crucial for the organization, which must find a delicate balance between allowing people to express their thoughts as freely as possible without violating local laws and cultural norms. When Facebook receives requests from governments or legal entities to limit access to content, it will remove all content that violates community standards.

In cases where the content does not violate community standards, Facebook will enter a legal review process, and if the content indeed violates local laws, access to that content may be restricted in the country. In Thailand, such requests are processed in the form of court orders submitted by the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society, and Facebook confirms that it has transparently reported the number of content access restrictions based on local laws.

Facebook Earned 700 Million Baht in Thailand Over 3 Years

Facebook began its operations in Thailand, officially registered on March 24, 2015, as Facebook (Thailand) Co., Ltd., with a registered capital of 108 million baht. The major shareholder is American, and the board includes David William Kling, Susan Jennifer Simon Taylor, and Michael Lee Johnson. Over the past three years (2017-2019), Facebook Thailand has generated total revenue of over 715 million baht, with a net profit of 31 million baht, and paid 22.5 million baht in taxes to the state.

In 2017, total revenue was 113.75 million baht, total expenses were 105.37 million baht, net profit was 5.57 million baht, and income tax paid was 2.8 million baht. In 2018, total revenue was 252.87 million baht, total expenses were 233.65 million baht, net profit was 10.26 million baht, and income tax paid was 8.96 million baht. In 2019, total revenue was 349.13 million baht, total expenses were 322.98 million baht, net profit was 15.35 million baht, and income tax paid was 10.80 million baht.

SOURCE :www.bangkokbiznews.com